Cod Almighty | Diary

Doug Tharme for Poet Laureate

16 October 2024

Doug Tharme. Swoon. What a guy. Not only did he heroically put his body on the line last Saturday to secure a hard-fought victory over Salford, but he also coolly endeared himself to a whole new audience during a post-match interview live on American TV. He spoke eloquently about our club, our history, and his pride in playing for Grimsby. Have we ever had such an articulate and handsome centre-back?

It was fascinating to hear Tharme talk about his love for American Football and his support for the Indianapolis Colts. As a fan of the sport for many years, I've rarely encountered anyone who chose to support the Colts without a connection to the city. It's definitely a niche choice and probably speaks to the fact that Doug isn't your stereotypical footballer. Like Town, the Colts are on the rise with a new coach and a youthful team playing in an entertaining style.

One of the things to admire about American Football is the level of parity present within the sport. The salary cap and draft system ensure a truly level playing field. On any given day, any team can beat another without it being considered a major upset. Success comes down to strategy, culture, and performance over resources. Basically, if you screw up as an owner, there's nowhere to hide; you can't just blame ITV Digital for 20 years of failure. It's ironic that in the land of capitalism, it is the long-term, equal redistribution of wealth via both finance and talent that makes the league thrive. It's definitely a contrast to the set up in English football, with the elite clubs effectively calling all the shots while the rest chase short-term success through unsustainable wage budgets and debt. Hopefully, if or when the Independent Football Regulator comes in we can see an approach that works for the collective good of all of the clubs as has been so successful in the NFL.

As well as Doug Tharme and pontificating about the NFL, I also enjoy the work of Simon Armitage. His hair isn't quite as nice as Doug Tharme's, and I'm making an assumption, but I reckon his poetry is probably better given he's the Poet Laureate and all that. Still, the way Doug eloquently handled that US TV interview, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a few verses in his locker. Some of the best poetry is inspired by trauma, so being thrown into last season's back four should have given him plenty of source material.

Anyhow, I was very excited to see that Mr. Armitage will be writing a poem to mark the opening of the new, fantastic-looking Horizon Youth Centre next autumn. The poem will "pay homage to Grimsby's vibrant past, whilst looking ahead to the exciting future that awaits local young people." If it's anywhere near as good as his recent Natural History project inspired by the history of Eldon Street in Barnsley, we could be in for something very special.

As an exile, I wasn't really aware of what the Horizon Youth Centre is, but a quick Google gives the impression that it will be a truly fantastic facility for the town. It boggles my mind slightly that we need charities to step in to provide the support and advice that young people need to get on in life. It's pleasing to see that as well as his involvement with trying to get the Football League Regulator up and running Jason Stockwood is in the thick of it, Chairing the Board and making a real difference as ever.

If you're reading this Jason I've got a few loose tiles on my roof if you want to come and sort that out as well. Bring Doug along if you like.